Perimenopause as a Rite of Passage
Most of us grew up hearing about “the change” in hushed tones—as a time of hot flashes, hormone shifts, and mood swings. But what if we’ve misunderstood this entire transition? What if it’s not a breakdown, but a breakthrough?
Perimenopause is more than a hormonal shift, and it definitely is not a midlife crisis. It’s a spiritual descent—a deep unraveling of everything that no longer serves you.
During this time, it’s common to feel:
- Emotionally raw or unfiltered
- Detached from your previous roles
- Like your life doesn’t quite “fit” anymore
And while that can feel disorienting, it’s not dysfunction—it’s a transformation.
Wait—What Even Is Perimenopause?
Here’s the wild part: I had never even heard the term perimenopause until I was already deep in it.
Like many women, I grew up thinking menopause was just one big event—an ending marked by hot flashes and the disappearance of your period. That’s it. No one ever talked about the years leading up to it—the slow unraveling of hormones, identity, and emotional filters.
No one told me how spiritual this journey could be.
No one explained the grief, the disorientation, or the invitation to come home to myself in a deeper way than ever before.
Perimenopause isn’t just a physical transition.
It’s an initiation.
And for many of us, it starts with the realization that we’ve been given only half the story.
The Forgotten Archetypes of Midlife Women
In patriarchal culture, we’re often reduced to three roles: Maiden, Mother or Crone. But the feminine has always been more nuanced, especially in ancient and spiritual traditions.
Across cultures, there’s a powerful other stage—a sacred identity that emerges when you’ve outgrown the Mother role but haven’t yet stepped into your Crone Era.
Here are a few archetypes that honor this in-between space:
👑 The Queen
She stands in sovereignty and discernment. No longer ruled by others’ needs or approval, the Queen chooses what aligns with her truth.
She’s not self-sacrificing—she’s self-led.
🕸 The Weaver
Drawn from Celtic and mythic traditions, the Weaver spins new stories from old threads. She sees the patterns, the lessons, and begins creating from lived experience.
She is both the witness and the creator of her next chapter.
🔥 The Enchantress
She is magnetic, intuitive, and unapologetically wild. The Enchantress trusts her body, follows her curiosity, and releases the need to please.
She no longer performs. She embodies.
🕯 The Keeper
A quiet, powerful archetype—the Keeper tends the flame of inner wisdom. She listens deeply, sets boundaries, and prepares for deeper spiritual truths.
She is the threshold guardian of her own becoming.
These archetypes remind us: this phase has always existed. We’ve just forgotten to name it.
Which one resonates with you? Maybe you’re like me and feel like a combination of two or three…?
Signs You’re in a Soul Awakening (Not a Breakdown)
You might not recognize your old self anymore—and that’s the point.
Some signs of this inner evolution include:
- Emotional honesty: You cry more easily, rage more freely, and speak more truthfully.
- Zero tolerance for BS: What used to roll off your back now calls for boundaries.
- Desire for alignment: You’re done with “shoulds” and craving soul-led decisions.
- Creative awakening: You feel a magnetic pull toward art, nature, and embodiment practices.
It may feel like your skin’s been turned inside out—but what’s really happening is a shedding of false layers.
Reclaiming the Midlife Transition
This phase isn’t just about physical changes. It’s about identity shifts, spiritual reckonings, and deep reclamation.
You’re becoming someone new—not because you’re broken, but because you’re ready.
✨ You don’t need to hustle to prove your worth.
✨ You don’t need to shrink to be liked.
✨ You don’t need to follow someone else’s map.
You get to write your own story now.
How to Honor This Rite of Passage
Perimenopause invites a new way of living. Try integrating:
- Daily check-ins: Ask your body what it needs—rest, movement, nourishment, space.
- Journaling prompts: “What roles am I shedding? What truths am I claiming?”
- Creative rituals: Dance, paint, write—anything that moves energy through you.
- Boundaries and honesty: Let go of overgiving. Speak what’s real for you.
Final Thoughts: Becoming Is Sacred
This is not a midlife crisis.
It’s a spiritual initiation.
A soul-awakening.
A reclaiming of your deepest self.
The woman you were? She did what she came to do.
The woman you’re becoming? She’s just getting started.
xx,
Kelly